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Nailed it

Making a fabric covered headboard has been on my list since the dawn of the blogosphere. I got especially giddy when blog friends Joi , Emily , and Jesse posted about their own versions. So using their glorious headboards as inspiration, I ventured into this crafty territory.

And you know what, no one ever told me that a fabric store could be so intoxicating. I totally did not take all the bolts of fabric (Damask, trellis, oh my!) , unraveled them onto the floor, and rolled around in them. Fully clothed, of course, because if I had been nekked, that would have just been weird. I mean, not that I did this.

Wait, what just happened........focus, FC, focus.

This project took me about 2 hrs (I think I aged 10 yrs making sure the nailhead trim was straight but SO worth it).

Fold batting to desired thickness, wrap around the plywood, and staple (watch your fingers) around perimeter to secure. Pull tautly as you go. Trim excess as needed.

Lay your fabric facedown and place headboard on top. Starting in the middle , pull fabric taut and staple. I checked the front of the headboard every so often to make sure I didn't have any weird wrinkles.

Now for the detail--nailhead trim!! Again, I have to thank Emily for this embellishment idea. It's like, where have these been all my life?! I'm naming my first-born after you, Em.

It was a bit hellish to get the nail head trim to look straight, but after some choice cuss words and a Band-aid later, mission accomplished. So......the bed's not made nor did I style this shot.

Forgive me for keeping it honest. I was so thrilled with the finished product that I couldn't wait to snap a shot.

Haven't hung it yet; right now it's just leaning against the wall.

Edit: Being somewhat of a Type A personality, my method for making sure the nailhead trim was straight was to use a ruler to make little light pencil marks all the way around the headboard. Then I lined up my nailhead trim w/ the pencil marks as I pounded in the brads to secure the trim. And voila.

Also, there was a lot of stepping back and examining my work from afar, just to make sure. Hope that helps!

Update: A few readers have inquired as to how we'll hang the headboard. I'm planning on using Dusty's genius approach outlined here. Thanks D!

I absolutely love this! I've been wanting to do this for awhile (I bought the nailhead trim months ago) but haven't gotten around to it. I'm making this my project when we get back from CO next weekend!!

Btw, is the nailhead trim you have silver or bronze/gold? I wasn't able to find silver, and I really wanted that color!

@ J: The only nailhead kit I saw at the fabric store (JoAnn's) were these bronze ones. They did have chrome ones but they were individual nailheads and I just didn't have the patience! Can't wait to see yours!

The headboard turned out FAB! Love the linen and the nailhead trim. I've been wanting to do this, but haven't convinced the husband yet. He doesn't understand wanting to split up the matchy-matchy bedroom suite. I'm still working on him.

::::still blushing up a storm:::: Thank you SO much, dear lovely readers!! I'm not what you'd call 'crafty' but even I pulled this off so that tells you how simple it was!

@ LindsB: I got the linen from JoAnn Fabrics, on sale this past weekend. It's such a great linen! =]

@ Nikki: Someone once told me, "Ask for forgiveness later." Not that I'm condoning surprising the Hubs w/ a new headboard (esp. if he's partial to your current bedroom set) but now you know how I operate w/ Mr. FC! =]

@ Anonymous: Being somewhat of a Type A personality, I used a ruler and made little light pencil marks all the way around the headboard. Then I lined up my nailhead trim w/ the pencil marks and voila. Also, there was a lot of stepping back and examining my work from afar. Hope that helps!

Amazing!! I only recently found out that Lowes will cut plywood to size. Why did it take me so long to figure that out?? I had always ixnayed the headboard idea because I can't take a sheet of plywood home in my itty bitty car. Duh!

This is lovely! I once made a headboard out of cardboard, batting, and fabric and stuck it to the wall with industrial strength Velcro... it wasn't very sturdy (and proves I'm obviously not OCD!) but it did the trick in our rental apartment!

After seeing this post last night -you inspired me to run not walk to the nearest fabric store and Home Depot to make this. It's exactly what I wanted and got it done today. It was all easy until I got to the nailheads - I love the look but don't want to see one again for a long while. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Ok, I am in LOVE with your headboard! I am getting ready to redo my master bedroom and have been toying with the idea of doing something similar. Now I am completely sold. It is amazing and beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration and the gorgeous eye candy.

Turned out great! What good timing.. we'll be finishing ours in a couple weeks when we finally move to our new house. My mom made the wooden frame, a few months back and it's been waiting in the garage ever since.

I was thinking of trying a buttom tuft or at least faking it with fabric covered buttons, but I think after seeing yours I will have to go with nailhead trim after all!

So glad I found your site! Your headboard looks like mine with the only difference being fabric! I may feel the urge to try your straightening technique for the nailheads- mine aren't 100% straight on the top, and it was a pain in the butt, Eek.

Check it out here: http://design-aholic.blogspot.com/2009/09/afternoon-headboard.html

@ Molly: I did find the linen in the apparel section! All they had was burlap in the home decorater section so I wandered all over until I found the linen. Guess I could've asked for directions but I was determined. =] Hope that helps.

I live in Boulder and I am going to be working on this same project this weekend! I am curious, did you go to the Joann Fabrics in Boulder or Denver? Does the one in Boulder have the fabirc and the nailhead trim? Thank you!

@ Lily: SO sorry for the late response! I found the linen (in the apparel fabric section) at the JoAnns in Westminster & the nailhead trim kit there as well. Not sure if the Boulder store has them since it's smaller. Good luck!

Hi there, I'm planning on making a headboard just like this - I am so glad I found your blog for a breakdown of supplies. But, I have a question - most DIYs I've seen include a layer of foam and you used only batting. How thick is it? Do you find it adds enough cushion?

@ Melanie: It's not super thick though it's more comfortable than if were just a wooden headboard. I usually prop a couple pillows against it when I lean back in bed to read & it's great. I didn't use a layer of foam (though I wanted to) b/c the nailheads I got weren't long enough to penetrate all those layers.

Hi Frekles Chick. Just wanted to thank you a million for this awesome headboard idea. I printed out your instrustions and headed to Home Depot and JoAnn fabrics to get my supplies. I got it done and i wish i could post pics for you to show the finished project.it looks amazing in my guest bedroom and i am ready to get started on a special one for my masterbed room! Thanks again!!

Oh my goodness this looks soooo fabulous. we have been married for 15 years and have only had a bed frame. It is sad my kids both have beautiful beds and we don't. And I had been giving it serious thought to doing a fabric covered headboard. This si fabulous and looks so chic...I WILL be doing one of these!!

It's been so long, I can't recall, but I think I used a 'full size quilt' bag of batting, which I folded in half (to double the thickness). It gives the headboard some padding but it's not SUPER cushy. Some people have attached upholstery foam to the headboard (using spray adhesive), then add batting on top of that for extra padding. Hope this helps.